BOX SCORE - GAME ONE

BOX SCORE - GAME TWO

PHOTO GALLERY

LATROBE (Apr. 13) - The Bearcats were down to their final strike twice in the first game, but senior Jack Shaffer delivered an RBI single and junior Grant Krally scored on a throwing error as the Bearcats won the first game in walk-off fashion, 8-7, before dropping the nightcap, 8-3, against Thiel in Presidents' Athletic Conference action.

With the split, the Bearcats move to 17-10 on the season and 7-7 in league play. The Tomcats are now 12-15 on the year and 5-6 in PAC action.

In game one, Thiel opened up with two runs in the top of the first before SVC answered back with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Senior Zack Galasso collected an RBI single and junior Andrew Kozusko registered a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 2-2. Galasso ended the scoring by crossing the play on a passed ball to give the hosts a 3-2 lead after one inning.

Thiel posted one run in the second and three runs in the third to take a 6-3 lead after three innings.

In the fourth inning, Krally posted an RBI ground out to cut the deficit to 6-4, but Thiel stretched the lead back to three runs with a run in the sixth inning, 7-4.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh down three runs, SVC quickly recorded two outs and Kozusko was down to his final strike before answering with a single up the middle. Senior Erik Fichter followed that with a double to left center to put runners on second and third and bring the tying run to the plate. Senior Mike Hustava stepped into the box and ripped a two-run single through the left side to make it a one-run game.

After Hustava was replaced with pinch-runner senior Nick LoNigro, who almost immediately advanced to second on a wild pitch, Krally walked to bring Shaffer to the plater. The senior quickly fell behind 0-2 but after battling and fouling off a few pitches, he singled through the left side, scoring LoNigro. As Krally was attempting to advance from first to third, the Thiel third baseman cut off the throw and tried to throw out Shaffer trying to advanced to second, but the throw sailed into right field and Krally scored the game's winning run.

Senior Jeremy Mains earned the win in relief, tossing the final 1.1 innings and allowing just one hit to improve to 3-2 on the season. Junior Gary Gerhardt took a no-decision after working the first 5.2 innings and allowing nine hits, seven runs (two earned) with three strikeouts and two walks.

Bobby Hillier took the loss out of the bullpen for Thiel, allowing four runs (three earned) and five hits in 1.1 innings in relief of starter Nick Rossmiller who worked the first 5.1 innings and yielded four runs (three earned).

Sophomore Joey Fearer finished game one 3-for-4 with a run scored while Hustava went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI in the win. Galasso, Kozusko, Krally and Shaffer each collected RBI hits in the first game.

In the second game, SVC opened up a 2-1 lead after scoring runs in the second and third innings on an RBI double by Hustava and RBI single by junior Brad Burkardt, respectively.

Thiel tied the game in the top of the fifth before scoring three runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.

Senior Steve Bayko singled and Shaffer walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but Thiel starter Brad Bates retired the next two Bearcats before another RBI single by Burkardt scored the games final run as SVC fell, 8-3, in the nightcap.

Burkardt finished 2-for-4 with two RBI in the second game with Galasso and Hustava each contributing doubles.

Junior Jared Haller suffered his first loss of the season to drop to 6-1 after working 5.1 innings and scattering nine hits and five runs (all earned) with three walks and two strikeouts. Fichter (1.1 inning) and sophomore Alex Kozusko (0.1 inning) also pitched in relief for SVC.

The Bearcats and Tomcats wrap up their season series on Sunday, Apr. 15, with a nine-inning game in Greenville, Pa., scheduled 1 p.m.